decoration 2

we are experiencing problems to post photos on the blog . . .

finally
a few photos of the fired pieces

~ ceramic matters - engraved platter "boy on koi" ~

~ detail of platter ~

~ detail - "man and dragons" ~



~ ceramic matters - skull with barb-wire crown ~

 

decoration

the need to embellish and decorate various aspects of life
has a history as old as man.

the history of tattoos stretches over thousands of years. the tattooed body of a frozen man ‘ötzi the ice man’ found in a mountain between austria and italy, dates back some 5000 years. 



~ a well dressed man ~



in japan only royalty were allowed to wear ornate patterned clothing.

the practise to decorate the skin ultimately resulted in the classic japanese
“body suit” tattoo.

a japanese man in traditional loin cloth and a full body tattoo in his own home was considered a well dressed man.

many cultures had tattoos, decorative or symbolic.



~ betty broadbent - circus performer ~



during edwardian times tattoos amongst the upper classes (family crests, etc) was popular until the modern tattoo machine was invented and patented. 



this meant many more could afford tattoos.




(imagine a tattooed aristocrat freaking out if betty walked into a room with her 350 tattoos!)

~ ceramic matters - sketch on green ware ~

interesting, decoration on ceramics has followed a similar path.


~ ceramic matters - sketch complete ~

expensive hand decorated ware and later the invention of transfers to decorate cheaper lines for all to afford.



~ ceramic matters - hand engraving complete ~

the plates are in the kiln, hope to show the fired pieces tomorrow.



bizarre Q & A - one to ten

fig 1 - cast skull

1. the design indaba, at the end of a long day, smiling
 and answering questions, an interrogation: “who is doing the tattoo drawings for you”? – did she think we have a sweatshop in the back of the studio?!

2. at rooms on view show "is this all the stuff you make? just shows you the sh*t people will spend money on!" - he should see them in the pub!

3. radio interview "so ceramic matters is the designer of the year; just a south african award, is it worth much?" what a dim comment; no response from me, not much better. (studies have shown that public speaking comes a close second to fear of death for some . . i cannot

classify myself quite at number two, but it runs in the single digits) in retrospect, the judge was international design guru li edelkoort and we are very proudly south african! 

fig 2 - drawing

 4. e-mail "i cannot afford the work of famous artist x; can you copy his work for me?" - can you believe . . . next they’ll want it signed . . . !


fig 3 - black engobe

5. our prices have gone up because of the electricity price increase . . .  

" yes, but can you give it to me at the old price?" 

6. e-mail "can you send me (export) free samples stipulated on the list?"
(worth R 20,000!) - free decorating service?!

fig 4 - start engraving

7. order confirmation - dated 15th september 2010 - from large semi-government organisation for delivery 3rd september 2010, with penalty clause for late delivery! – time travel? 

fig 5 - engraved skull


8. department store 'invites' us to do ‘exclusive’ work for it. once a confidentiality document is signed, we are presented with the 'new' designs - photos of our work! – would we not notice?



fig 6 - engraved skull

9. “can you glaze my son’s computer hard drive, so nobody can steal the information on there?” – yes, sure, nobody will have access to it after it was fired to 1120°C.

10. “my son is a very talented sculptor. can you please model and fire a hand for his school project?” – i'm so not buying the teacher an apple . . . !

names and identities are withheld

to protect ceramic matters from further contact

send us your bizarre experiences

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